In recent years, debates between Germany and the US have heated up in the digital realm. Initially, surveillance was at the center. Since then, more facets have been added: discussions over transatlantic data transfers and the regulation of US technology companies are two recent examples.

Still, countries on both sides of the Atlantic face similar challenges as they deal with the impact of increasing digitization: changes in the public sphere due to social media; data-driven automation and implications for the job market; fighting cybercrime and increasing cybersecurity; protecting against influence operations and the increasing clout of authoritarian countries on global technology policy.

To build more long-term transatlantic cooperation, the Transatlantic Digital Debates (TDD) program fosters dialogue among future decision-makers. Following the successes of the first round in 2016, and the second round in 2017, the program will bring together nine German and nine American young professionals from different sectors to meet in Berlin and Munich (June 11-15, 2018), and in Washington, DC and Boston (October 14-19, 2018).